Our PC’s Limited (Dell) 286 computer came with a B.G. Micro vocal synthesizer card, which lets the computer “talk” in 1980s robot style. Two tantalum capacitors had failed on the board, so all were replaced.
Photos
Resources
Resources we found related to this card components
- Let Linux Speak: Article from Linux Journal in 1996 about the SP0256-AL2 chip
- CTS256A-AL2 datasheet
- SP0256-AL2 datasheet
- B.G. Micro advertisement from Computer Shopper, January 1987
- B.G Micro ad in ComputerCraft June 1993
- J-Tech95 Youtube video showing the card in use
How it Works
Here’s a very rough overview of how it works. The board uses two chips:
SPO256-AL2 is the speech processor
CTS256A-AL2 text to speech controller chip
The SPO256-AL2 processor creates speech sounds from basic sound units (known as phonemes) based on input commands, while the CTS256A-AL2 controller written English into those basic sound units, together making it possible to turn written text into spoken words.
The ISA interface on the card is solely to provide power. The ISA bus is not utilized for any data transfer. Instead, the card uses the DB-25 RS232 serial interface for text input.
The Votrax SC-01 was another synthesizer from this time period, but is a different chip as explained by Dr. Scott M Baker. He has a ton of great info on these synthesizers as well as a video creating a new board from these components.
How To Use
The DIP switches determine the serial port settings. . .
When power is applied, the CTS2564-AL2 chip outputs speech audio of “O.K.”
TODO: further instructions coming!